Turbine



Oct. 1'1, 1960 c. w. GALusKA 2,955,428

TURBINE Filed June 2, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Charles W Ga/us/ra INVENTOR.

mm BY *gb/W :YMW

Oct. 11, 1960 c. w. GALusKA 2,955,428

' TURBINE Filed June 2, 1958 3 Shee's-Sheet 3 Charles W. GaIus/ra INVENTOR.

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United States Patch'` f of ;(Ialifornia, Unit '2, APO 358, San Francisco, Calif.), sfizfnor of fifty percent to Lois Edwards, San Jose,

Filed 'June z, 19'58, ser. No. 739,256` s claims. (cl. "so- 60) This invention` relates' to turbines and more particularly to a combination turbine adapted to beiactuated by water under pressure flowingfadjacent. thereto.

An object of the inventionis to provide a combined turbine adapted to connect with a source of fiowing water, the turbine` havinga pair 'of coupled units which combine to provide for'a power take-off. `Water under pressure passing through aiconduit-is the ultimate motive force used to operate theiunits of the turbine. .A venturi is applied nthe conduit wit'h a pipe attached to the suction or` low pressurepart of the venturi, and the turbine that istconstructed in accordance with the in'- Vention connected'withithis pipe. Thefirst unit is adapted; to be rotated.by thei air which rushes throughL the pipe to enter theventuri, while the second-unit 'reduces the atmospheric pressure. adjacent: to and in the pipe `to further facilitate 'operation of the first unit; This-'second unit also. applies. a suction to the firstA unit` which cooperates with' the suction p'roducedv at the venturi, even further aiding in rotating the'first unit ofI the'combined turbine. i I

These together with other objects and advantages-which will become subsequentlyl apparentfreside in the details of construction androperation as morelful-ly hereinafter described and claimed, Vreference being had to ,the accompanying'dr'awirigs frming aV pa-rt hereof,`` vwherein like numerals refer' tolike parts throughout,-,and in which:

Figure 1 is a 'diagrammatic perspective view showing a typical installation of'the invention. i

Figure`2` is an ienlarged sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure: 1. i

Figure 3 is a Vsectional view-takenion'the line 3` 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4- 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line '7-7 of Figure l.

In the accompanying drawings there is a typical installation 10 which has the invention embodied therein. This installation includes Va dam 12 having a conduit 14 that leads to power house, filtration plant, or the like 16. Conduit 18 is the discharge conduit from the building housing the filtration plants, power house, etc.` A venturi 20 is in conduit 18, and the venturi has a low pressure part with an opening 22 in -registry therewith. A housing 24 encases a part of the conduit and opening 22 with which pipe 26 is registered.

As shown in Figure 2 the pipe 26 has an opening 28 in registry with an opening in casing 30. The end of the pipe 26 has an opening 32 in registry with sleeve 34 that is attached to one end of the casing 30. The air that is drawn into the vventuri 20 throughpipe 26 must pass through opening 20` or'through opening 32, but opening 32 jhas unit 36 connected with it whichmainview taken on the line 6-6- Pan-.med Oct. ir, ineo fice tans. a vacuum within the sleeve 34 andhousing 62' of unit 36 and accordingly preven'ts air from fiowingV in- Wardly through opening 32 to pipe 26. Accordingly, all of the air that enters the venturi passes' through opening 28.

Casing 30 has a turbine wheel381 m'ounted for rotation on a turbine wheel shaft 40. This is rotatably disposed in bearings 42 and 44 that are` carried by the end walls of casing 30. VThe end of turbine shaft 40 can have splines 46 thereon or any other type of coupling for connection to any kind'of 'device needing power to operate it. A typical device would be a dynamo or generator. v

The airZ to theinletffor the unit 48 having the turbine wheel 38 therein, is. passed through' an air filter 50 consisting of' a case-51 with filter material 52 in it and a screen '53 covering the filter material. An air tube 54 is connected with' an opening in the air filter casing and connected with an air. inlet opening 56 in casing 3 3l Mounting fianges and bolts can' be used for attaching all of the pipes, conduits and the like in place. 'In addition, although only a few seals' are illustrated, it is understood that seals can be used wherever found necessary or desirable.

Shaft 40 extends through sleeve 34'and is mountedfor rotation witih a bearing 60 carried by housing 62. The housing 62 is a part'of a rotor ofunit 36 and includes a'cylindrical side wall 64`mounted'for' rotation on the open end of sleeve 34. :Seal 66' is disposed between the cylindrical'wall 64iand the' open outer end`of sleeve 34. Shaft 40 is keyed or otherwise fixedv to the bearing 60 so that the rotor of unit`36 isactuated simultaneously with the rotation of the turbine wheel in the first unit 48.

A .plurality of` hollow radial arms 68l are attached to the walls 64 and they have venturi tubes V'70 at their outer ends and in registry with the passageway in each hollow arm 68. The' direction of rotation of the rotor of unit 36V is shown inFigure. 3. When so moving the air rushes through the venturi tubes 70Qcausing a Vsuction in the passageways of each arm. This suction draws a draft through the venturi tubesj 70, they acting asa discharge for the air. Therefore 'thefcavity enclo'sed'by housing 62 is under a vacuum as is the space enclosedby sleeve 34; This reduces atmosphericpressure at the openingt and helps to drivetthe-turbine wheel 38; i

Throttle. valve 72.'which can be'wa''v gate valve Vor any other type of valve, is attached to air tube 54 in such a way that the control element of the valve can be adjusted to open and close the passage in the air tube 54 and in advance of air manifold 74 that is bolted or otherwise attached to the casing 30 and in registry with opening 56.theren.

In use, the combined turbine is connected so that source of flowing water as shown in Figure 1 induces a reduced pressure in pipe 26. Valve 72 is adjusted in accordance with the desired speed of operation, this controlling the air inlet to the first unit 48 containing the turbine wheel 38. At the same time, the second unit 36 has its rotor set in motion because the rotor is coupled to shaft 40 of the first unit 48. This draws a further vacuum at the' inlet 28 of the first unit turbine casing 30 further aiding in the operation of the unit 48.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of Ithe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, it is not desired' to limit the invention to the exact construction andV operation shown and described.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A combination turbine having a first unit and a second unit, said first unit including a casing having a pair of openings defining an air inlet and Outlet, said air inmounted for rotation in said casing, a turbine wheel fixed to said shaft, said second unit including a rotor, means on said rotor for drawing a vacuum, an air pipe communicating said outlet opening with said means for drawing a vacuum, said rotor operatively connected lto said shaft and driven thereby, a venturi through which water passes having an opening at the low pressure part thereof, said air pipe further connected to the opening in said venturi whereby air is drawn through said casing from said inlet to said outlet.

2. A combination turbine having a first unit and a second unit, said first unit including a casing having a pair of openings defining an air inlet and outlet, said air inlet being open to the atmosphere, a turbine Wheel shaft mounted for rotation in said casing, a turbine wheel fiXed to said shaft, said second unit including a rotor, means on said rotor for drawing a vacuum, an air pipe communicating said outlet opening with said means for drawing a vacuum, said rotor operatively connected to said shaft and driven thereby, a venturi through which Water passes having an opening at the low pressure part thereof, said air pipe further connected to the opening in said venturi whereby air is drawn through said casing from said inlet to said Outlet, valve means supported adjecent said a'ir inlet operatively interposed between said inlet and said atmosphere for regulating the actuation of said turbine wheel.

3. A combination turbine having a first unit and a second unit, said first unit including a casing having a pair of openings defining an air inlet and outlet, said air inlet being open to the atmosphere, a turbine Wheel shaft mounted for rotation in said casing, a turbine wheel fixed to said shaft, said second unit including a rotor, means on said rotor for drawing a vacuum, an air pipe communicating said outlet opening with said means for drawing a vacuum, said rotor operatively connected to said shaft and driven thereby, a venturi through which water passes having an opening at the low pressure part thereof, said air pipe further connected to the opening in said venturi whereby air is drawn through said casing from said inlet to said outlet, said means on said rotor for drawing a vacuum including a plurality of hollow radial arms, a hollow hub from which said radial arms protrude, said arm hollows communicating with said hub hollow, and venturi tubes at the outer ends of said radial arms.

4. A combination turbine having a first unit and a second unit, said first unit including a casing having a pair of openings defining an air inlet and outlet, said air inlet being open to the atmosphere, a turbine wheel shaft mounted for rotation in said casing, a turbine wheel fiXed to said shaft, said second unit including a rotor, means on said rotor for drawing a vacuum, an air pipe communicating said outlet opening with said means for drawing a vacuum, said rotor operatively connected to said shaft and driven therehy,a venturi through which water passes having an opening at the low pressure part thereof, said air pipe further connected to the opening in said venturi whereby air is drawn through said casing from said inlet to said outIet, valvemeans supported adjacent said air inlet operatively interposed between said inlet and said atmosphere for regulating the actuation of said turbine wheel, vsaid means on said rotor for drawing a vacuum including a plurality of hollow radial arms, a hollow hub from which said radial arms protrude, said arm hollows communicating with said hub hollow, and venturi tubes at the outer ends of said radial arms.

5. A combination turbine having a first unit and a second unit, said first unit including a casing having a pair of openings defining an air inlet and outlet, said air inlet being open to the atmosphere, a turbine wheel shaft mounted for rotation in said casing, a turbine wheel fixed to said shaft, said second unit including a rotor, means on said rotor for drawing a vacuum, an air pipe communicating said outlet opening with said means for drawing a vacuum, said rotor operatively connected to said shaft and driven thereby, a venturi through which water passes having an opening at the low pressure part thereof, said air pipe further connected to the opening in said venturi whereby air is drawn through said casing from said inlet to said outlet, valve means supported adjacent said air inlet operatively interposed between said inlet and said atmosphere for regulating the actuation of said turbine wheel, said means on said rotor for drawing a vacuum including a plurality of hollow radial arms, a hollow hub from which said radial arms protrude, said arm hollows communicating with said hub hollow, and venturi tubes at the outer ends of said radial arms, a sleeve, said hollow hub mounted for rotation on said sleeve, a'seal between said hollow hub and said sleeve, said sleeve registered with said air pipe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,581,450 Seeler Ian. 8, 1952 2,863,287 Berkman Dec. 9, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 89,119 Switzerland Nov. 17, 1919 

